Paralympian Mullikan Petkar conferred Padma Shri

By: Sherab Pulger

Tue,20 Mar 2018

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The war veteran was a pro at many sports be it boxing, swimming, javelin, shot put, table tennis or wrestling, Petkar could beat the best of their players. Boxing was Petkar’s first love. He won many medals in boxing while representing the Indian Army. He also won the national title in 1965.

India's first Paralympics gold medallist, Pune's Mullikan Petkar, finally got 'official' recognition of his achievement 45 years after he won the gold medal in 1972 Paralympics in Heidelberg, Germany. He set a world record in the 50 m freestyle swimming event, at 37.33 seconds.

He was private or jawan of the craftsman rank in the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) in the Indian Army. He was disabled during the 1965 war against Pakistan, sustaining severe bullet wounds. Petkar was originally a boxer at EME, Secunderabad. After he was crippled he switched to swimming and other sports. He participated in table tennis at the 1968 Summer Paralympics and cleared the first round. He won four medals in swimming. He was later employed by TELCO in Pune

Petkar, who is resilience personified, who is the true definition of never-give-up, is not even acknowledged by his neighbours for his accomplishments.

The war veteran was a pro at many sports be it boxing, swimming, javelin, shot put, table tennis or wrestling, Petkar could beat the best of their players. Boxing was Petkar’s first love. He won many medals in boxing while representing the Indian Army. He also won the national title in 1965.

Petkar was overwhelmed as the Padma honour came as a surprise. He thanked GO Sports foundation and Rahul Dravid for their effort to reach the right ears.